Precious Inuit language names should be promoted

During a recent discussion with some Inuit friends, the issue of names came up. So many Inuit are known by white, Western, Anglo-Saxon names and no longer by traditional names.

The loss of this aspect of Inuit life, it was felt, had gone a long way to help speed up the decline in what is left of the old ways and the Inuit culture.

Jimmy, Johnny and Harry are names that have replaced so many of the traditional ones. As the newer generations embrace the modern world, much of what was important is being swamped by the new ways.

Passing on the name of a deceased person to a new child was felt to keep the spirit alive of the dearly departed. That was one way in which names came into use.

So many names were created at the time of the birth of the child. The parents would exclaim when seeing their new baby’s ears or whatever struck them as a nice feature: lovely ears, eyes. Gender was not important with names.

Many of the Inuit I knew when I first came here had names that were difficult for Westerners to get their tongues around, school teachers in particular.

Many names were shortened for ease. Many were dropped and simple Canadian names were substituted. In areas influenced by the churches, the names of biblical characters became common. People I knew in Iqaluit had an amazing ranged of interesting names.

These are my spellings:

Itugaloopia, Kiachuk, Yougeoogousilik, Itulu, Kaki, Natchiapik, Gootigliak, Napatchie, Kipanik, Geetaloo, Kilabuk, Pootoogoo, Ahmee, Lyta, Ootukee, Saki, Ooguarluk, Sila, Koojuakjook, Isah, Nooshoota, Pauta, Akpaliajook, Halingo, Ipeelee, Idlout, Issigaitook, Qamanik, Kavavow, Alookie, Koonuk, Anawak, Nookiguak, Audlakiak, Nakoolak, Shoovigak, and Toowaga.

These were just a some of the names of people I knew. These names were the public names. Many, or most, Inuit have private names used only by their close relatives.

Everyone was known by one name. Within the community, everyone knew everyone else.

It was during the advent of the arrival of southerners that other identification was required: government forms, birth certificates and so on.

This system was in use until the Government of the Northwest Territories established Operation Surname. The huge task was given to Abe Okpik. It took him years of hard work and travel to try to find surnames that people were happy with. Some people objected to the surnames they were given. That issue is still ongoing.

It is sad that those wonderful unique names are fading into the past. How many Johnnys are there in the world? Probably millions. I know for certain there are very few Gootigliaks on this earth.

The unique names the Inuit used throughout their history are a very important element that they should hold precious and promote. I believe that it would go a long way to keeping this vulnerable culture alive.

Bryan Pearson
Iqaluit

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